Sage 500 ERP includes accounting and finance, distribution and supply chain, and manufacturing operations support modules. The latest Sage 500 release includes accounts payable enhancements, credit card processing, and general updates, as well as updates to the solution's modules.
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ScaleFactor
Score 9.5 out of 10
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)
Austin-based ScaleFactor provides their small business accounting automation platform designed to combine software and expert assistance to SMBs and remove concern for financial, tax and accounting challenges.
Sage 500 ERP is great for companies with core accounting needs, distributors, and discrete manufacturers. Some areas, such as process manufacturing, would require a companion product from an ISV for the software to be truly functional. Some areas, such as construction or retail apparel, may simply not be well-served.
I work with several businesses and have attempted to bring ScaleFactor into multiple. Thus far the business status/environment has been suitable for ScaleFactor only once, but I'll continue to look for more. ScaleFactor is great when a company has matured beyond the owner making all accounting and banking entries. As soon as multiple systems are needed, it's likely a decent time to call ScaleFactor. I'm confident my operations could run through ScaleFactor for a long time as the next step for us would be something akin to NetSuite or some other more rigid enterprise solution. Additionally, our business has a geographically displaced work force, typically working from home. Having access to all systems via the cloud has been great. No longer do we have to pass a specific computer back and forth for a physical computer software license. It's enabled maximum work flow convenience.
Sage is the one-stop-shop for all of our needs. We're able to control contracts, subcontracts, and field reports from the program.
Another strength is the ability to database all the information and export it to excel. This makes data-based investigations a breeze.
The ability for Timberscan to be imported to Sage is a huge help with invoice management. Prior to this it all had to be done manually and slowed the process to an essential halt as there are thousands of invoices per month.
ScaleFactor has been a great resource for me as I got my business off the ground. They have allowed me to focus on marketing and strategy while they handle my Quickbooks and other accounting needs. Great accounting and finance solutions that don't require you to hire an in-house staff
Could connect with All saving accounts i.e. Building society saving aswell as major banks.
When a connected bank or savings account hasn't been used for a month or 2 it could show a 0 transaction to keep it updated rather then saying "last updated 3 months ago"
I have been using Intacct for almost 10 years in 2 different companies and I just simply love it. I tried SAP (GUI) and Netsuite and they dont come close to what Ive seen.
ScaleFactor has been a great resource for me as I got my business off the ground. They have allowed me to focus on marketing and strategy while they handle my Quickbooks and other accounting needs. Great accounting and finance solutions that don't require you to hire an in-house staff.
Keep your database and application in different servers. Install Microsoft Office on your application server so you can use some of the data analysis tools in Sage.
500 seems much smoother at handling some of the basic accounting tasks, for example both issuing and later reconciling checks in Dynamics AX seems a little tedious.
Scale factor, can be used like Xero I believe. However all my past data was already stored in Xero so I used it as an add on. It is a lot more user friendly and helpful, i.e. you don't need to be an accountant to use it. However I am not sure it is useable anymore or supported, so i have gone back to using Xero alone.
Positive: The program allows for a lot of data entry and splitting of information. It has the capability of replacing multiple programs and therefore saving cost.
Negative: The modules are cumbersome and not user friendly at all. As a result not many user are comfortable using it. This means that the program is not being used to its capacity.
Negative: Although the program has the capacity to be great, the user interface destroys that potential. Sage needs to seriously work on their program to simplify it. It's as if it still uses Command-line entries from 1995. Needs to be updated ASAP.
They have been fundamental in helping us grow and scale at a relatively low cost in comparison to out-sourcing these functions. We can spend more on other items that can fuel growth while knowing the back end is taken care of.
They provide automated supports for key areas like payroll, expenses, etc so that we can quickly get back to focusing on the other items.